2018Tag Archive

One of the most popular and coveted marathon in the world is happening this weekend. Capt Seshadri talks about the Boston Marathon.

There is only one marathon in the world that has ‘bandits’ participating. And no, not the Robin Hood or even the Gabbar Singh kind, but runner bandits. These were unregistered runners who were eager to participate but did not have a bib number. It was customary for them to be held back till the last of the starters had left the blocks and then unleashed unofficially. After a while, these bandits, like some of their folklore counterparts, became heroes among the spectators and the media. Such is the stuff of tales surrounding one of the oldest marathons in the world.

The Boston Marathon, to be held on April 16, has had a virtually unbroken run since its inception in 1897, even during the years of the great world wars. It probably took its origin following the tremendous success of the first marathon event in an Olympics, in the summer of 1986. In the early years, it was run on April 19, but was soon changed to the third Monday of April, celebrated as Patriots’ Day and now commonly referred to as ‘Marathon Monday’.

Humble Beginnings

What began as a local event, with just 15 participants on debut, has grown over time to receive recognition as one of the most prestigious marathons in the world. Every year, over 30,000 registered runners from across the globe, are cheered every bit of the way by around half a million spectators, that includes the ‘scream tunnel’, a more than a three quarter mile long unbroken chain of young ladies whose cheering can be heard for over a mile!

Can one possibly imagine thousands of athletes, some traveling halfway across the globe to run a gruelling 26 miles, only for the winner to be rewarded with an olive wreath? But, for over a century, the Boston Marathon was a purse-free event, until in 1986, professional athletes threatened to boycott the event unless a cash prize was instituted. Fortunately, corporates stepped in, and cash awards made their entry into the race.

It is one of the most difficult courses in marathon running, with the Newton Hills challenging even trained runners, and their apex culminating in Heartbreak Hill, reducing the most seasoned runners to near walking speed. With this being a physical and psychological breaking point, it presents a phenomenon that marathoners refer to as ‘hitting the wall’!

Women in Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon remained a male chauvinistic bastion until 1972, when women were officially permitted to participate. However, Roberta ‘Bobbi’ Gibb is acknowledged by race organisers as the first woman to have run the entire stretch of the marathon as early as in 1966. A year later, Kathy Switzer obtained a bib number and participated. Her run was marred by an ugly incident where a race official tried to tear off her race bib and prevent her from finishing. The gender equation rapidly changed since then; in 2015, around 46% of the participants were women. There is only one woman however, who owns the unique distinction of having run the Boston Marathon in two elements: earth and space. Astronaut supreme and record breaker for much of what happens in space – Sunita Williams. This amazing and tenacious lady ran the marathon, strapped by a harness to a treadmill aboard the International Space Station while the event was being run on earth!

Toughest Qualifying Standards

The event has stringent qualifying standards. Participants must be above 18 years of age and must have completed a marathon certified by a recognised body with international affiliations. There is also a pre-set qualifying time limit, depending on age. For many aspiring marathoners, to ‘BQ’, or qualify for Boston, is in itself a treasured achievement. However, to popularise the event and to honour charitable causes, around 20% of the participation has been thrown open to entrants from charities, sponsors, local running clubs, vendors and marketers, whose philanthropic endeavours garner close to $ 35 million in charity collections.

The Boston Marathon has thrown up many heroes. Foremost among them is Bob Hall whose request, in 1975, to participate in a wheelchair, was accepted, with the proviso that he would be recognised as a ‘finisher’ only if he completed in under 3 hours and 30 minutes, the time limit set for normal runners. The indefatigable Bob finished in 2 hours and 58 minutes. Thus was born the wheelchair division of the race; the event was soon to accommodate visually impaired runners as well.

In 2013, the event was marred by two explosions, around 180 metres yards apart, within the final 200 metres of the finish. Although many of the faster runners had completed the course, the fatality of three spectators and the injury caused to 264, forced the event to be called off, with many runners close to the midway mark. This deterred neither the organisers nor the participants, and the event continues to be a major draw among the fastest endurance runners of the world.

And, going back to the subject of bandits, Boston Marathon Director Dave McGillvray was himself once a teenage bandit!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Capt Seshadri Sreenivasan is a former armed forces officer with over 30 years experience in marketing. He also a consulting editor with a leading publishing house. He is a co-author of the best selling biography of astronaut Sunita Williams.

Come New Year and everyone makes resolutions to be better than last year. Since you are making resolutions anyway, how about a few running resolutions this year, asks Nandini Reddy

So it is almost that time of the year when you start thinking about how you can bring a positive change to your life and how the New Year will see a new you. If you are a runner then how about this year we try a few things that might make you a better runner. They may be resolutions that would improve your running or just make you enjoy running a little more this year.

Get the right Shoe

Go out and buy that shoe you have always wanted. The right shoes can make such a huge difference to your running style. Pick the one that is recommended for road running if you train around the city. If you want to run trails the get a different shoe. Speak to a specialist if you have to but get those shoes that you deserve. Make it the first thing on your list of resolutions for the new year.

Do more than run

If you have not worked on your strength training as yet then sign up for at least two days a week of strength training in the new year. If you cannot make it to a gym then try and workout using classic body weight training exercises that will help strengthen your muscles.

Get healthy

Make getting healthy a target instead of losing weight. Concentrate on overall health instead of just the weight. That will help you increase nutrition instead of just cutting calories. Use water as a friend to improve your running efficiency. Try have more meals instead of overloading at a single time.

Spend time with runners

Runners are a huge motivating force and if you are around them you will be more inspired to achieve your running targets for the year. They are also likely to be more enthusiastic about participating in marathons together and will be willing to train with you for the big race.

Make Less Excuses

It will always be too hot or cold or too wet to run. Meetings and routines will take over your day all the time. But try and make less excuses for not going on those runs during the week. Every run counts and every run brings you closer to your goal.

Pick your dream marathon

Aim to run a particular marathon in the year. Train with that goal in mind. Your attitude towards training and nutrition will change automatically. Pick one major marathon that gives you enough time to prepare yourself. Set a challenge to complete this marathon in a given time.

Running is fun. Don’t get too serious about it. Enjoy your runs on training days. Make interesting eating plans and ensure that it becomes a part of your life that you look forward to everyday.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An irregular runner who has run in dry, wet, high altitude and humid conditions. Loves to write a little more than run so now is the managing editor of Finisher Magazine.